Coupling.



R. E. L. JANNEY.

COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, 1911.

1,130,824. Patentedmar. 9, 1915.

5 SHBETVSHEET 1.(

R. E. L. JANNBY.

couPLING.

APPLIATION FILED NOV, 20, 1911. 1,130,824. Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

5 'SHEETS-SHEET Z.

R. E. L. JANNEY.

n GOUPLING. APPLICATION FILED Nov, zo, 1911.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5 1 a san yawr asien ROBERT E. L. JANNY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN STEEL FOUNDRIES, F NEW YORK,N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

' GOUPLING,

Application. filed November 20, 1311.

a citizen of the United States, residing at lio Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Couplers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to car couplers, and is primarily lan improvement upony the invention disclosed in the copending joint application of Edmund P.' Kinne 'and myself for couplers, iiled January 21, 1911, and bearing Serial No. 603,858. Said joint invention provides, among'other things, for preventing the reseating of the locking block on the lock-set ledge or shoulder while the knuckle is open to any material extent.

The present invention recognizes the fact that, due to wear, rust, intention or other causes the locking block .may become reseated on the lock-set ledge or shoulder while the knuckle is in anopen position, and, .therefore, it is an important object of the present invention to provide for positively unseating the locking block from its lock-set position should the lock go back into lock-set position under any of the aforementioned conditions, and to cause it to move from the lock-set ledge onto the `tail of the knuckle lwhereon it will ride and be maintained against going back into lock-set 1 position during the closing of the knuckle.

It is furthermoredesigned to provide an improved anti-creep arrangement, whereby r any movement on the part ofthe locking block, in its locked position, which may be caused by the action of the knuckle tail on the locking block, will be in a direction toward the anti-creep ledge or shoulder,

rather than away from it, therebyto bring v'about 'a more intimate engagement of the locking block with the anti-creep rather than to tend to move the locking block out of engagement with the anti-creep ledge or shoulder; and to provide for positively moving the locking block out of engagement with the anti-creep ledge or shoulder in a very simple and elicient manner.

With these and other objects in view, the

present invention consists in the combination and arrangement ot parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointedout inthe appended claims, it being understoodythatfchanges; in the form,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 9, 12H5.

Serial No. 661,404.

with this invention and showing the parts in locked condition. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the lock seated on the lock-set ledge and the knuckle free to swing open. Fig. 3

is a similar view showing the knuckle partly v open, the lock having been unseated from the lockset and illustrating' the impossibility of the lock being again seated on the lockset ledge. Fig. 1 is an irregular horizontal sectional view taken on theline i-fi of Fig. 1, the parts being in locked condition. Fig. `5 is a fragmentary plan view of the knuckle and the locking block, a portion of the coupler head being in section, showing the manner of guiding the locking block, and also showing in dotted lines, the relation of the knuckle tail and the locking block during the opening movement of the knuckle. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the knuckle completely open and the position of the locking block with respect thereto. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 4, the locking block being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective View of the locking block. Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 1, taken through the longitudinal center of the coupler head, the locking block being in elevation. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View taken in front of the locking block.

Like reference characters designate correspending parts in each of the several figures of the drawings.

Referring at first more particularly to 'Fig 4 of the drawings, it will be seen that 20 designates a coupler shank having a head 21, aguard arm 22, lugs 23, a. swinging knuckle 24: and a knuckle pivot pin 25.'

l.provided near itsmouth with a recess 2,7, in

which works a projection 28 (shown in Fig. 3) depending from the bottomof the knuckle tail. This recess is open at its rear end so' as to permit the projection to move into and out of the recess, While its outer or forward end is closed so as to form an abutment or stop against which the projection 28 is designed to strike and thus limit the opening of the knuckle. y

It will here be explained that, due to wear on'the projection '28 and the closed end of the recess 27, the knuckle may open to a greater extent than originally intended, and, therefore, it is an important object oi. the present invention to take care of such condition and insure the proper operation of the locking block under such a condition.

The locking block ofi this invention isa somewhat irregular although substantially rectangular block of metal, andis designed to ,lie between and `engage the lniuekle tail and the guard arm wall of the recess in the `coupler head in the locked position of the knuckle, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 oi" the drawings. In the top of the locking block @there is a'recess 44:, extending in a direction longitudinally of the coupler .,head, and bridged by a loop 45, to which is connected the Alifter 46. This lifter is provided with a longitudinal slot 47, whereby the lifter may drop to a certain extent, accommodated by the recessed in the top of the block. The top of the block has another recess 48, which opens' through the front of the block and also through 'what will be termed the knuckle side of the block, for the purposes of accomlmodating a portion of the knuckle opener, as will be hereinafter explained. At the iront of the block and at jthe knuckle side thereof there is a depending toe or projection 49, through the medium of which the vblock is pulled from its lock-set position and is prevented from returning to the lock-set position by coperation with the knuckle tail as Awill be hereinafter described. On the guard arm lside of the locking block and at the rear oi. the block there is a verticall ly eX- tending shoulder 50, and across the rear face of the block just below the top thereof there issa transverse horizontally disposed ledge or shoulder 51. The upright shoulder or abutment works in a 'vertical groove 31 in the guard arm wall of the recess in the coupler head, and engages backiot'` the front wall of said groove. so as to-limit the forward movement of the locking blok. Thetransverse ledge or shoulder 5l is designed tounderlie a horizontally disposed ledge or shoulder 30 extending transversely across the rear wall of the recess in the head of the coupler, so fas to provide the anti-creep fea` ture of this invention, as will hereinafter appear. The 'under' side of the ledge or' shoulder 30 is an anti-creep abutment, -while .the top or upper face of'said shoulder is the lock-set "seat, on which the locking block is designed to restwhen the block is not ein' ployed for locking the knuckle. l l

With the locking block in its looked position, as shown in Fig. e of the drawings .the

lower portion of the'upright shoulder 50 ot. the locking block'is in engagement with the '30, andv is thereby held against upward displacement. -However, the block is free to move rearwardly, vto a limited extent atl least, so far as'any rear obstruction is concerned. This fact is utilized by locating the anti-creep shoulder y30 transversely across the back of the recess inv the coupler head and to /therear of the locking block, whereby the tendency of the locking block is to work vfurther under the antifcreep ledge or shoulder, under the action of the knuckle tail, rather than to work forwardly and away from the anti-creep ledge or shoulder. This is a very important feature of the present invention, in' that it eiliectually prevents the locking block from working from beneath and disengaging the anti-creep ledge or shoulder in a very positive and simple manner.

The locking block may be elevated from its locking position, so as to release the swinging knuckle, by being pulled from above by the lifter 46', suchr lifter being loosely connected to .the block at a point in rear of its center of gravity, whereby, on

being elevated by the lifter,'the front por.

ies

the anti-creep ledge or shoulder v30, thus automatically and positivelyfreeing the lock from the anticreep ledge or shoulder merely by the action of lifting the locking block.

Of course, the locking block could be lifted by pushing upwardly upon the bottom there of, the only essential being that the point of application of `torce tothe block for lift-- ing the same be in rear or' its center of gravity, as will be readily understood.. This tilting oi the locking block, to permit it to disengagc trom the anti-creep ledge or shoulder lis not interfered with by the uprightslioulder 50 on lthe locking block, be cause thelatter has sullicient play in the groove 3l to permit of suchtilting of the block. See Fig. 7 of the drawings.

During the elevation of the locking block, its rear face will wipe upwardly across the front of the ledge or shoulder 30, until the bottom of the locking block has passed slightly above the horizontal plane of the top of the ledge or shoulder 30, whereupon the block will tilt to a greater extent and the rear portion of the bottom of the \block will swing over the top of the shoulder 30 and will seat thereon when the block is lowered. When thus seated upon the lockset seat, the locking block will thereafter remain in an elevated position above the knuckle tail so as to permit of the knuckle being swung to an open position.

Vith the locking block on the lock-set seat, and the coupler in lock-set position, it is proposed, on opening the knuckle, to draw the locking block forwardly from its lockset seat onto the tail of the knuckle, in substantially the same way as is shown and described in my joint copending application hereinbefore referred to. This feature is accomplished by means of a transverse shoulder extending across the top of the knuckle tail, cooperating with the toe or projection 49 on the bottom of the locking block. This shoulder is preferably provided by forming a groove 36 across the top of the knuckle tail and opening through opposite sides thereof and in which the toe or projection 49 is designed to work. The

Y 'rial citent, -Gee"Figf in the groove 36 or in front of portion 36a of the knuckletail between the groove 36 and the rear end of the tail supports the locking block when it has been pulled forwardly from its lock-set position and constitutes a shoulder extending across the knuckle tail. The front wall or face of this shoulder 36a is inclined rearwardly of the knuckle in opposite directions from an intermediate point, as shown at 36b and 36, and the top of the shoulder' is chamfered as at 36d to form a continuation of the face or wall portion 36. The effect of this formation of the front wall of the shoulder 36B is to widen the groove at both ends, for the purpose as will hereinafter appear. lt is not desired to immediately pull the locking block from its locking-set position on the initial opening of the movement of the knuckle, and therefore the front face of the shoulder 36a on the knuckle tail is inclined at 36", so that the toe or projection 49 of the locking block will not Contact with the front face or wall of said shoulder until thaknuckle has swung open to` some mate- `5')`,"ad"wheii it does come into contact with said face or wall, the further opeuingvof the knuckle will of course positively pull the locking block forwardly until it becomes supported upon the slniulder 36EL offthe knuckle tail. So long the looking, block remains upon the knuckle tail with its toenrprojectipn`49 thefroiit wall of the shoulder 36a, the locking block will be prevented from working rearwardly into its lock-set position. With the locking block resting on the knuckle tail, if the knuckle is moved to its closed position, the knuckle ta'il will wipe beneath the locking block, and when it passes beyond the locking block, into the full-line position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the locking block will be unsupported and will drop down into its locking position. Thereafter the Vknuckle may be released by lifting the locking block and seating it upon the lock-set s eat.

Under normal conditions, the knuckle being open, as shown in Fig.' 6, the toe 49 of the locking block will lie in front of the -shoulder 36a, and hence the locking block is chamfered as at 36d, in order that shouldv the lock, when lowered, seat on the lockset shoulder, the toe 49 Awill lie in front of the chamfered portion. Under these conditions, when the knuckle moves to its closed position, the wall of the chamfered portion 36d will operate as a cam to pull the locking block forwardly and this action will be continued by the wall portion 36c of the knuckle tail, whereby the locking block' will be unseated from the lock-set ledge and pulled on to the top of the shoulder 36L on the knuckle tail, where it will ride until the knuckle tail escapes from beneath the locking block and the latter will drop to its locking position.

It will now be understood that under normal or ordinary conditions, the chamfered portion 36d doesnotcome into use, and is useful only when wear takes place or other 4 conditions arise wherein the knuckle opens to an abnormal extent and the locking block becomes seated upon the lock-set shoulder. It is preferred to chamfer the knuckle tail, rather than to out it oif entirely in order to have the benefit of as much metal as possible in the hooked terminal of the shoulder 36, which hooked terminal is designedto embrace and pull against the end portion 43 of the knuckle-throwing lever 39 which is pivoted upon trunnions 40 and 41 fitting in bearing sockets 33 and 34 in the coupler head. Then the locking block is lifted to release the knuckle, the top of the block strikes the upper free end portion 42 of the knuckle throwing lever 39 and rocks it on its trunnions so as to swing the lower end portion 43 transversely of the coupler head and thereby kick the knuckle open.

j Having thus described my invention, what I claim, is 1- 59 der havin;-3 a face on its forward side eccenyazi head, a swinging 'knuckle having a transverse shoulder on the 'tail thereof, a lock, and a lock-set shoulder on vthe head in rear of the frontl face of the lock, said lock having a seat portion to seat upon the lockset shoulder and valso provided at the front of the lock` with a depending portion to tion of the 'projection on the lock in thev normal open position of the knuckle being shaped to permit said projection to lie in front of said portion of the shoulder Lin an Vabnormal open position of the knuckle, said portion of the shoulder being eccentric to the pivot of the knuckle and operating to pull the lock forwardly from the lock-set seat by the closing vof the knuckle.

2. A car coupler comprising a coupler head,al swinging knuckle having a transverse shoulder on the tail thereof, a lock, and a lock-set shoulder on the head in rear of the front. face of the loclnvsaid lock having a seat portion to seat'upon the lockset shoulder and also provided at the front of the lock with a depending portion to engage the front wall of the shoulder on the knuckle tail and thereby hold the lock i with its seat portion in front of the lockset shoulder when the lock is dropped from an elevation above the lock-set position and in an open position of the knuckle, the extremity of the transverse shoulder on the extension knuckle-tail beingr chamfered to receive the depending portion of the lock in an abnormal open position of theA knuckle, said chamfered portion being eccentric to Lthepivot of the knuckle and operating to pull the lock forwardlyafrm the lock-set seat bythe' closing of the knuckle'.

3. A coupler comprising a coupler head, a swinging knuckle provided with a transy' verse shorderon the tail thereof, said shoultri c with respect to the pivot ofthe knuckle, a lock having a projection, and lock-setting means including a lock-set shoulder disposed Wholly to the rear of the,front face of the lock, the vprojection"on the lock engaging the lfront face of the shoulder on the knuckle tail when theyknuckle is open, and

the -eccentricitv ofthe eccentric face of the shoulder on the knuckle tail `being such as to draw the lock forwardly kduring the clos Eng of the knuckle. y f f4. A coupler comprising a coupler hea-d,

a swinging knuckle provided with a transverse shoulder on its tail` said shoulder hav-u ing its front face inclined rearwardly of the knuckle in opposite directions from an intermediate portion, a lock having a projec tion, and a' lock-set seat Adisposed wholly to the rear of the front face of the lock, the projection on the lock being in position to be engaged byone of the inclined faces of and when the lock is on the lock-set seat, whereby. to positively draw the lock for wardly from its lock-set'position during opening of the knuckleand said projection engaging the other inclined 'face of the shoulder during the initial closing movement of the knuckle to prevent re-setting of the lock on the lockset seat during the closing of the knuckle.

, 5. A coupler comprising a coupler head, 4a swinging knuckle provided rupon its tail with a shoulder extending transversely thereof, a lock having a projection, and a lock-set seat disposed wholly to the rear of the vfront face of the lock, the projection on the lock engaging the forward face of the shoulder during opening-of the knuckle to positively draw the lock forwardly from its lock-set position, the initial point of contact of the projection with the front face of the shoulder being disposed inwardly from the inner side' of the tail of the knuckleto per- 'mit of an initial pening movement .o'f the knuckle before engagement with the projection.

6. A car coupler including a 'coupler head vthe shoulder during opening of the knuckle having a cavity therein, al' lock in the cavity,

a lock-set seat onl therear Wall of the cavity,

an anti-creep should r .onqthe rearwall of the cavity, and lockli ting vmeans for moving the lock out from beneath the anti on the rear wall of the cavity, and lock-lift ing means for. movingthe lock out from beneath the anti-creep shoulder, lifting it to an elevated position and permitting to seat upon the lock-set seat. l y

8. A coupler knuckle having a coupling hook and a tail portion, said tail portion having on its upper surface a transverse shoulder extending beyond the outerside ofk the knuckle, the'front edge portion of the shoulder on the extension thereof being chamfcred. i 9. A coupler knuckle having a coupling hook and a tail portion, said tail portion having on its upper surface a transverse '12,

shoulder, the iront face of said shoulder being inclined rearwardly 1n opposite directions from an intermediate portlon.

10. A coupler knuckle having a coupling hook and -a tail portion, said tail portion having on its upper surface 'a transverse in the lock-set position of th'ecoupler, and lock lifting means for moving the lock for- Wardly and out from beneath the anti-creep 15 shoulder, lifting it toyan, elrated position and permitting it to move rearwardly and seat upon the lock-set seat.

ROBERT E. L. JANNEY.

Witnesses:

A. TREvoR JoNEs, S. M.YD\ARL1NVG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Qommissioner otratent Washington, D. 0. 

